FRENCHREVOLUTION
NOTES
, FRENCH REVOLUTION
NOTES
1.What is meant by the term ‘Old Regime’?
The term Old Regime is usually used to describe the society and institutions of France before
1789.
2. What is meant by Estate General? Write a short note on the Assembly of Estate called
by Louis XVI?
The Estates General was a political body to which the three estates sent their representatives.
*On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of the Estates General to pass
proposals for new taxes.
*The first and second estates sent 300 representatives each and the third estate sent 600
members. The third estate was represented by its more prosperous and educated members.
* Peasants, artisans and women were denied entry to the assembly. However, their grievances
and demands were listed in some 40,000 letters which the representatives had brought with
them.
*Voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted according to the principle that
each estate had one vote. This time too Louis XVI was determined to continue the same
practice. But members of the third estate demanded that voting now be conducted by the
assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote.
*When the king rejected this proposal, members of the third estate walked out of the assembly
in protest.
3. Write a note on the Tennis court oath.
The representatives of the third estate viewed themselves as spokesmen for the whole French
nation. On 20 June they assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the grounds of
Versailles. They declared themselves a National Assembly and swore not to disperse till they
had drafted a constitution for France that would limit the powers of the monarch. They were
led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes.
4. What do you know about Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes?
Mirabeau was born in a noble family but was convinced of the need to do away with a society
of feudal privilege. He brought out a journal and delivered powerful speeches to the crowds
assembled at Versailles. Abbe Sieyes, originally a priest, wrote an influential pamphlet called
“What is the Third Estate”
5. Write a short note on
a) Turmoil in France
In 1789 France seethed with turmoil. A severe winter had meant a bad harvest; the price of
bread rose, often bakers exploited the situation and hoarded supplies. After spending hours in
long queues at the bakery, crowds of angry women stormed into the shops. At the same time,
the king ordered troops to move into Paris.
NOTES
, FRENCH REVOLUTION
NOTES
1.What is meant by the term ‘Old Regime’?
The term Old Regime is usually used to describe the society and institutions of France before
1789.
2. What is meant by Estate General? Write a short note on the Assembly of Estate called
by Louis XVI?
The Estates General was a political body to which the three estates sent their representatives.
*On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of the Estates General to pass
proposals for new taxes.
*The first and second estates sent 300 representatives each and the third estate sent 600
members. The third estate was represented by its more prosperous and educated members.
* Peasants, artisans and women were denied entry to the assembly. However, their grievances
and demands were listed in some 40,000 letters which the representatives had brought with
them.
*Voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted according to the principle that
each estate had one vote. This time too Louis XVI was determined to continue the same
practice. But members of the third estate demanded that voting now be conducted by the
assembly as a whole, where each member would have one vote.
*When the king rejected this proposal, members of the third estate walked out of the assembly
in protest.
3. Write a note on the Tennis court oath.
The representatives of the third estate viewed themselves as spokesmen for the whole French
nation. On 20 June they assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the grounds of
Versailles. They declared themselves a National Assembly and swore not to disperse till they
had drafted a constitution for France that would limit the powers of the monarch. They were
led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes.
4. What do you know about Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes?
Mirabeau was born in a noble family but was convinced of the need to do away with a society
of feudal privilege. He brought out a journal and delivered powerful speeches to the crowds
assembled at Versailles. Abbe Sieyes, originally a priest, wrote an influential pamphlet called
“What is the Third Estate”
5. Write a short note on
a) Turmoil in France
In 1789 France seethed with turmoil. A severe winter had meant a bad harvest; the price of
bread rose, often bakers exploited the situation and hoarded supplies. After spending hours in
long queues at the bakery, crowds of angry women stormed into the shops. At the same time,
the king ordered troops to move into Paris.
